Melbourne School of Health Sciences Collected Works - Research Publications
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ItemThink-aloud study about the diagnosis of chronic heart failure in Belgian general practice(BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, 2019-06)OBJECTIVES: Diagnosing chronic heart failure (CHF) in general practice is challenging. Our aim was to investigate how general practitioners (GPs) diagnose CHF in real-world patients. DESIGN: Think-aloud study. METHODS: Fourteen GPs were asked to reason about four real-world CHF cases from their own practices. The cases were selected through a clinical audit. This was followed by an interview to get a deeper insight in their reasoning. The Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven was used as a guide in data analysis. RESULTS: We developed a conceptual diagnostic model based on three important reasoning steps. First, GPs assessed the likelihood of CHF based on the presence or absence of HF signs and symptoms. However, this approach had serious limitations since GPs experienced many barriers in their clinical assessment, especially in comorbid elderly. Second, if CHF was considered based on step 1, the main influencing factor to take further diagnostic steps was the GPs' perception of the added value of a validated CHF diagnosis in that specific case. Third, the choice and implications of these further diagnostic steps (N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide, ECG and/or cardiac ultrasound) were influenced by the GPs' knowledge about these tests and the quality of the cardiologists' reports. CONCLUSION: This think-aloud study identified the factors that influenced the diagnostic reasoning about CHF in general practice. As a consequence, targets to improve this diagnostic reasoning were withheld: a paradigm shift towards an earlier and more comprehensive risk assessment with, among others, access to natriuretic peptide testing and convincing GPs of the added value of a validated HF diagnosis.
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ItemA New Life with Opportunities and Challenges The Settlement Experiences of South Sudanese-Australians(Africa World Books, 2019-08-18)Migration and Marginalisation of Refugees: The Settlement Experiences of South Sudanese-AustraliansAuthor: Dr William Abur, PhDMigration and resettlement is a process that involved an individual or a family moving to
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ItemUnderstanding context: A concept analysis(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic):(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(WILEY, 2019-12)AIMS: To conduct a concept analysis of clinical practice contexts (work environments) in health care. BACKGROUND: Context is increasingly recognized as important to the development, delivery, and understanding of implementation strategies; however, conceptual clarity about what comprises context is lacking. DESIGN: Modified Walker and Avant concept analysis comprised of five steps: (1) concept selection; (2) determination of aims; (3) identification of uses of context; (4) determination of its defining attributes; and (5) definition of its empirical referents. METHODS: A wide range of databases were systematically searched from inception to August 2014. Empirical articles were included if a definition and/or attributes of context were reported. Theoretical articles were included if they reported a model, theory, or framework of context or where context was a component. Double independent screening and data extraction were conducted. Analysis was iterative, involving organizing and reorganizing until a framework of domains, attributes. and features of context emerged. RESULT: We identified 15,972 references, of which 70 satisfied our inclusion criteria. In total, 201 unique features of context were identified, of these 89 were shared (reported in two or more studies). The 89 shared features were grouped into 21 attributes of context which were further categorized into six domains of context. CONCLUSION: This study resulted in a framework of domains, attributes and features of context. These attributes and features, if assessed and used to tailor implementation activities, hold promise for improved research implementation in clinical practice.
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ItemHow actionable are staff behaviours specified in policy documents? A document analysis of protocols for managing deteriorating patients(WILEY, 2019-11)BACKGROUND: To optimise care of deteriorating patients, healthcare organisations have implemented rapid response systems including an "afferent" and "efferent" limb. Afferent limb behaviours include monitoring vital signs and escalating care. To strengthen afferent limb behaviour and reduce adverse patient outcomes, the National Early Warning Score was implemented in the UK. There are no published reports of how National Early Warning Score guidance has translated into trust-level deteriorating patient policy and whether these documents provide clear, actionable statements guiding staff. AIM: To identify how deteriorating patient policy documents provide "actionable" behavioural instruction for staff, responsible for actioning the afferent limb of the rapid response system. DESIGN: A structured content analysis of a national guideline and local policies using a behaviour specification framework. METHODS: Local deteriorating patient policies were obtained. Statements of behaviour were extracted from policies; coded using a behaviour specification framework: Target, Action, Context, Timing and Actor and scored for specificity (1 = present, nonspecific; 2 = present, specific). Frequencies and proportions of statements containing elements of the Target, Action, Context, Timing and Actor framework were summarised descriptively. Reporting was guided by the COREQ checklist. RESULTS: There were more statements related to monitoring than escalation behaviour (65% vs 35%). Despite high levels of clear specification of the action (94%) and the target of the behaviour (74%), context, timing and actor were poorly specified (37%, 37% and 33%). CONCLUSION: Delay in escalating deteriorating patients is associated with adverse outcomes. Some delay could be addressed by writing local protocols with greater behavioural specificity, to facilitate actionability. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Numerous clinical staff are required for an effective response to patient deterioration. To mitigate role confusion, local policy writers should provide clear specification of the actor. As the behaviours are time-sensitive, clear specification of the time frame may increase actionability of policy statements for clinical staff.
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ItemDEveloping a Complex Intervention for DEteriorating patients using theoretical modelling (DECIDE study): Study protocol(WILEY, 2019-09)AIM: To develop a theory-based complex intervention (targeting nursing staff), to enhance enablers and overcome barriers to enact expected behaviour when monitoring patients and responding to abnormal vital signs that signal deterioration. DESIGN: A mixed method design including structured observations on hospital wards, field notes, brief, unrecorded interviews and semi-structured interviews to inform the development of an intervention to enhance practice. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with nursing staff using a topic guide informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework. Semi-structured interviews will be transcribed verbatim and coded deductively into the 14 Theoretical Domains Framework domains and then inductively into "belief statements". Priority domains will be identified and mapped to appropriate behaviour change techniques. Intervention content and mode of delivery (how behaviour change techniques are operationalized) will be developed using nominal groups, during which participants (clinicians) will rank behaviour change techniques/mode of delivery combinations according to acceptability and feasibility. Findings will be synthesised to develop an intervention manual. DISCUSSION: Despite being a priority for clinicians, researchers and policymakers for two decades, "sub-optimal care" of the deteriorating ward patient persists. Existing interventions have been largely educational (i.e. targeting assumed knowledge deficits) with limited evidence that they change staff behaviour. Staff behaviour when monitoring and responding to abnormal vital signs is likely influenced by a range of mediators that includes barriers and enablers. IMPACT: Systematically applying theory and evidence-based methods, will result in the specification of an intervention which is more likely to result in behaviour change and can be tested empirically in future research.
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ItemThe impact of pelvic organ prolapse and/or continence surgery on pelvic floor muscle function in women: A systematic review(WILEY, 2019-08)AIMS: To systematically review the evidence for the effect of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and/or continence surgery on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) morphometry and function in women, and to investigate whether a relationship exists between PFM measures and clinician-reported objective pelvic floor outcomes postoperatively. METHODS: Six electronic databases were searched until March 2018. Studies were included if they examined the effect of POP and/or continence surgery on the PFM in women, and reported pre- and postoperative data. Methodological quality was assessed using a modified Downs and Black checklist. Three meta-analyses were planned based on postoperative follow-up time. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Varied surgical interventions and 33 different PFM measures were represented. The methodological quality of included studies varied considerably. The 0 to 6 weeks postoperative meta-analysis showed no statistically significant change in PFM function (SMD = 0.04; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.26 to 0.33). This was consistent at 3 and 6 or more months (SMD = 1.13; 0.35 95% CI = -0.34 to 2.60, - 0.42 to 1.12 respectively). None of the included studies investigated the relationship between PFM measures and clinician-reported objective outcomes postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: This review did not show a clear effect of POP and/or continence surgery on PFM morphometry or function in women and was unable to show a relationship with outcomes such as objective prolapse score and urodynamic findings. This could be because surgery does not measurably impact on the PFM or due to the poor quality and heterogeneity of studies. Future well-designed research is needed to specifically investigate change in the PFM following surgery.
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ItemAssociations between nutritional energy delivery, bioimpedance spectroscopy and functional outcomes in survivors of critical illness(WILEY, 2019-12)BACKGROUND: Patients who survive critical illness frequently develop muscle weakness that can impact on quality of life; nutrition is potentially a modifiable risk factor. The present study aimed to explore the associations between cumulative energy deficits (using indirect calorimetry and estimated requirements), nutritional and functional outcomes. METHODS: A prospective single-centre observational study of 60 intensive care unit (ICU) patients, who were mechanically ventilated for at least 48 h, was conducted. Cumulative energy deficit was determined from artificial nutrition delivery compared to targets. Measurements included: (i) at recruitment and ICU discharge, weight, fat-free mass (bioimpedance spectroscopy) and malnutrition (Subjective Global Assessment score B/C); (ii) at awakening and ICU discharge, physical function (Physical Function in Intensive Care Test-scored) and muscle strength (Medical Research Council sum-score (MRC-SS). ICU-acquired weakness was defined as a MRC-SS score of less than 48/60. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) cumulative energy deficit compared to the estimated targets up to ICU day 12 was 3648 (2514-5650) kcal. Adjusting for body mass index, age and severity of illness, cumulative energy deficit (per 1000 kcal) was independently associated with greater odds of ICU-acquired weakness [odds ratio (OR) = 2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.4-3.3, P = 0.001] and malnutrition (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1-3.2, P = 0.02). In similar multivariable linear models, cumulative energy deficit was associated with reductions in fat-free mass (-1.3 kg; 95% CI = -2.4 to -0.2, P = 0.02) and physical function scores (-0.6 points; 95% CI = -0.9 to -0.3, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cumulative energy deficit from artificial nutrition support was associated with reduced functional outcomes and greater loss of fat-free mass in ventilated ICU patients.
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ItemCan we do better? Bridging the research to practice gap in patient blood management–optimizing ‘audit & feedback’ and the challenges of undertaking a national cluster‐randomized controlled trial(Wiley, 2019-02)Audit and Feedback (A&F) is a frequently used quality improvement strategy, which aims to improve patient care and outcomes. The impact of A&F has been subjected to research scrutiny; systematic reviews document only modest and variable effects, despite the likely high costs of A&F programmes, such as those undertaken nationally. To understand and enhance A&F, a programme of research termed AFFINITIE ‘Development & Evaluation of Audit and Feedback INterventions to Increase evidence‐based Transfusion practice'; http://www.ccf.nihr.ac.uk/ PGfAR/about/Pages/Abstract.aspx?ID=12588) has been completed. AFFINITIE adopted a multidisciplinary approach that applied behavioural theory and evidence to optimize the design and delivery of feedback on transfusion practice. These interventions were then tested by embedding them in the context of transfusion national audits in two national randomized cluster trials. The audit topics were preoperative surgery management and use of blood in patients with haematological malignancies. Emerging findings included the scope to improve the design of feedback reports by the inclusion of additional behaviour change techniques and increasing the specificity and relevance of feedback (i.e. clarity around who the feedback is targeted at, providing feedback only on behaviours relevant to audit standards, selecting fewer, more concrete, and relevant standards). Other findings recognized the importance of robust data collection based on agreed and clearly stated standards. Also, given wide variation in how hospitals received, shared and responded to feedback, a consequent need was identified to better support hospitals to plan their response to feedback, including disseminating the reports to all relevant stakeholders with agreement on selecting local goals and plans.
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ItemHow soon do allied health professionals lose confidence to perform EBP activities? A cross-sectional study(WILEY, 2019-08)OBJECTIVE: To explore if there is a relationship between allied health professionals' confidence to perform a range of evidence-based practice (EBP) activities and the time since they graduated from their entry-level degree and the presence of postgraduate qualifications. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Allied health professionals from two Australian public metropolitan health services, including acute, subacute, and community settings. PARTICIPANTS: Sample of 288 (n = 288) allied health professionals from the disciplines of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, social work, dietetics/nutrition, and other. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Cross-sectional survey including 12 questions measuring respondents' confidence to conduct a range of EBP activities. RESULTS: Allied health professionals begin to lose confidence related to EBP activities within the first 5 years of clinical practice, particularly for those activities involving critical analysis of published studies. Respondents with postgraduate qualifications were more likely to report greater confidence with EBP activities, suggesting that higher level qualifications protect against the effect of degradation of EBP skills and confidence over time. CONCLUSIONS: Allied health professionals' confidence to perform EBP activities degrades over time, particularly for those individuals with no postgraduate qualifications. Registration and accreditation bodies along with allied health professional employers should explore potential strategies to preserve and enhance EBP skills, confidence, and behaviours.